Geelong Illustrators will open the doors of its newly expanded studio and retail space with a grand reopening celebration.
The celebrations kick off at 4pm on Saturday, July 15 at the collective’s studio gallery at 105 Moorabool Street, Geelong, featuring a new exhibition, food and drinks, door prizes and giveaways.
Geelong Illustrators, established as a loose collective a decade ago, moved into the studio gallery in 2018 through the Renew Geelong project, sharing the space with Found:Ry (formerly the Reimaginarium).
Since Found:Ry vacated the premises, Geelong Illustrators has spent the past six weeks renovating the space to include both a larger retail space and a new area dedicated to workshops.
The collective’s manager, Clare Holder, said everyone at Geelong Illustrators was thrilled about the reopening.
“We’re very much looking forward to it; this has been six months in the making,” Ms Holder said.
“Everyone’s complaining that everything’s closing down in the CBD, well, we’re not, we’re expanding. It’s a bright, shiny new space, with a big new shop that welcomes everybody.
“It’s bright and colourful, I think it’s just what the CBD needs. We cannot wait to welcome the Geelong community.”
Geelong Illustrators is a volunteer-run organisation that aims to promote the work of its members, provide mentorship for up-and-comers and build and connect a community of local artists.
“The idea is that any commission we take on sales we use to cover basic utilities, so artists get the majority of the money,” Ms Holder said.
“This is a place where local artists, whether they’re emerging or more established, can come, hang out, sell their wares, engage with the community, get support and find a way to build themselves up.”
Entry to Geelong Illustrators’ Grand Reopening is free. For more information contact events@geelongillustrators.com.au.
